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 (Photo courtesy of USLacrosse) caption:
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Becker Will Be Thrust Into International Limelight As Former Tiger Lax Star Makes World Cup Debut
By Bill Alden
Rachael Becker isn't one to seek attention.
Since earning her masters in health administration from George Washington University, the former star defender for the Princeton women's lacrosse team has been working behind the scenes as an administrator at a nursing home.
Becker is perfectly content to be paying her dues in the real world. "It's a learning process," said Becker, a native of Broomall, Pa. who is working at a nursing home in nearby Westchester. "I'm learning business, finance, and other important parts of the operation. I love it; it feels like I'm doing the right thing."
Later this week, the reticent Becker will be thrust on the world stage as she plays for the U.S. national squad at the 2005 International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations' (IFWLA) World Cup.
Showing her customary modesty, Becker is surprised to have the chance to play in the competition which will be held from June 23 to July 2 in Annapolis, Md.
"I was shocked," said Becker, a 2003 Princeton graduate in recalling her reaction when she heard she had made the 16-player roster of the team which will be coached by Sue Stahl of Old Dominion. "I'm really excited and humbled. It's such an amazing group of players."
Becker, who has played on the U.S. Developmental Team from 2003-2005, acknowledges that she has been going through a new learning experience as she adjusts to her new coach and teammates.
"It's been hard but in a good way," said Becker, referring to the team's training camp at the University of Virginia which has featured three-a-day practice sessions. "A lot of it is new for me, learning different defenses and playing with new people."
Becker is confident that she can make an impact for the U.S. squad. "I'm more of a power player," said Becker, who helped lead Princeton to NCAA titles in 2002 and 2003. "I like to shake things up. I'm always looking to improve."
Becker, a three-time All-American at Princeton who won the 2003 Tewaaraton Trophy given to the national player of the year, forged that desire to get better during her college days.
"Chris Sailer did such a good job of preparing us," said Becker referring to the longtime Princeton head coach. "The team learned to enjoy the process rather than to focus on the result."
Sailer, for her part, enjoyed having Becker anchoring her back line from 1999-2003. "Defenders are different from attackers," said Sailer, an All-Ivy defender in both lacrosse and field hockey during her playing days at Harvard. "Rachael lives outside the limelight. She led a unit that doesn't usually get much attention."
But the speedy and fierce Becker had such singular skills that she earned a lot of national attention even without gaudy offensive statistics next to her name.
"Rachael loved to shut down scorers and take them out of their game," recalled Sailer. "She excelled in the one-on-one matchups; that was her forte. Her game is to hold people outside of the zone and move them in the direction she wants."
Becker could change the course of a game single-handedly during her college career. "She was a person who could disrupt a whole team by herself," asserted Sailer of the 5'6 Becker who also starred in field hockey at Princeton.
"She did that by frustrating top scorers and taking them out of their game. That could impact a team's offense down the line. During her time at Princeton, she also became a much better team defender, reading plays and communicating with her teammates."
In Sailer's view, Becker will turn some heads at the World Cup. "It's going to be exciting to see," said Sailer. "Rachael is going to thrive in that environment, she loves a challenge."
Becker knows that she and her teammates are in for a challenge as the U.S. aims to win its fifth straight World Cup.
"We're going to have to fight for it, there are some great teams coming," said Becker looking ahead to the 10-country competition.
"There is definitely pressure on us to win. No team has ever won it as the host country. I think i t will be a great way to showcase the game."
And it will be a great way for Becker to burst into the international limelight and showcase her skills.
